🙂A single person spends $1,768 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,047 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,652 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,170 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,535 per month in Karlskrona vs $4,292 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂Karlskrona is about 14% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Karlskrona and Malmo sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 32%, Malmo by 53%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.32SEK 124
$13.48SEK 126
-1.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1SEK 645
$85.6SEK 799
-19.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.22SEK 86.0
$12.67SEK 118
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$3.98SEK 37.16
$5.05SEK 47.16
-21.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.48
$2.69SEK 25.07
-46.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.44
$2.15SEK 20.07
16.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21SEK 67.3
$8.00SEK 74.7
-9.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33SEK 49.78
$8.20SEK 76.5
-35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 14.88
$1.67SEK 15.62
-4.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84SEK 26.45
$3.11SEK 28.99
-8.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84SEK 35.80
$3.61SEK 33.71
6.37%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 38.01
$4.42SEK 41.22
-7.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49SEK 107
$12.05SEK 112
-4.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95SEK 111
$12.78SEK 119
-6.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94SEK 149
$27.50SEK 257
-42.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.13
$3.27SEK 30.49
-1.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43SEK 22.69
$2.78SEK 25.94
-12.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21SEK 29.96
$3.24SEK 30.25
-0.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64SEK 43.31
$4.79SEK 44.68
-3.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.07
$1.83SEK 17.07
-17.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SEK 14.88
$1.95SEK 18.22
-17.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 20.69
$2.57SEK 23.98
-13.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.49
$1.34SEK 12.50
8.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48SEK 69.8
$8.13SEK 75.9
-8.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48SEK 126
$12.10SEK 113
11.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10SEK 19.59
$2.53SEK 23.59
-17.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SEK 16.55
$2.66SEK 24.80
-33.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03SEK 28.24
$3.36SEK 31.37
-9.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2SEK 608
$69.3SEK 647
-5.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.57SEK 136
$6.44SEK 60.1
126.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.47
$2.64SEK 24.63
-37.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.00SEK 196
$56.2SEK 524
-62.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 17.49
$1.92SEK 17.92
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 308.6K
$33.1KSEK 308.6K
-0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 317.7K
$33.8KSEK 315.3K
0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.3SEK 497
$154SEK 1,433
-65.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.37SEK 265
$30.36SEK 283
-6.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87SEK 344
$40.38SEK 377
-8.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.31SEK 404
$38.30SEK 357
13.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.03SEK 224
$23.78SEK 222
1.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.05SEK 159
$17.81SEK 166
-4.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,358
$162SEK 1,508
-9.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$753SEK 7,026
$4,876SEK 45.5K
-84.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 967
$105SEK 977
-0.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.86SEK 195
$45.70SEK 426
-54.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2SEK 795
$124SEK 1,159
-31.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154SEK 1,434
$165SEK 1,542
-7.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716SEK 6,679
$932SEK 8,693
-23.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$690SEK 6,435
$773SEK 7,215
-10.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149SEK 10.7K
$1,721SEK 16.1K
-33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,002SEK 9,348
$1,343SEK 12.5K
-25.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,141SEK 29.3K
$4,311SEK 40.2K
-27.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,664SEK 24.9K
$3,360SEK 31.3K
-20.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,640SEK 24.6K
$3,353SEK 31.3K
-21.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
4.86
-3.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: May 30, 2026
Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Karlskrona versus $932 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 27% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlskrona versus $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $410 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Karlskrona vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,652 per month in Karlskrona and $3,071 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlskrona and $86.0 in Malmo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona vs Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,768 in Karlskrona and $2,047 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Karlskrona or Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,768, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared